By: West, Miles S.B. No. 642
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of mental health services for certain
  children at risk of relinquishment.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 262.351, Family Code, is amended by
  amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (1-b) to
  read as follows:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (1-a) "Department" means the Department of Family and
  Protective Services.
               (1-b) "Relinquishment avoidance program" means the
  Health and Human Services Commission's program that provides mental
  health services to a child with a severe emotional disturbance
  without the child entering the managing conservatorship of the
  department.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 262, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 262.353 to read as follows:
         Sec. 262.353.  PROCEDURE FOR RELINQUISHING CHILD TO OBTAIN
  SERVICES. (a)  The commission may not require the department to
  conduct a child abuse or neglect investigation before allowing a
  child to participate in the relinquishment avoidance program unless
  there is an allegation of abuse or neglect of the child.
         (b)  A local mental or behavioral health authority may refer
  a child directly to the relinquishment avoidance program without
  first contacting the department.
         (c)  The department and the commission shall:
               (1)  jointly adopt comprehensive guidance for
  providers and families that describes:
                     (A)  how to access services under the
  relinquishment avoidance program; and
                     (B)  the child's and family's rights when the
  child's parent or legal guardian:
                           (i)  relinquishes the child in order to
  obtain mental health services for the child; or
                           (ii)  accesses services under the
  relinquishment avoidance program;
               (2)  publish the information described by Subdivision
  (1) on the agency's Internet website; and
               (3)  make the information described by Subdivision (1)
  available to caseworkers and families with a child who has a severe
  emotional disturbance.
         (d)  The department and the commission shall jointly adopt
  clear and concise protocols for families at risk of relinquishing a
  child for the sole purpose of accessing mental health services for
  the child.  The protocols must:
               (1)  include procedures for determining eligibility
  for the relinquishment avoidance program, including emergency
  eligibility procedures for children who are at immediate risk of
  relinquishment;
               (2)  include procedures for applying for the
  relinquishment avoidance program;
               (3)  identify who will manage the case of a family
  eligible for the relinquishment avoidance program;
               (4)  identify the funding and resources for the
  relinquishment avoidance program; and
               (5)  identify the role of each party involved in the
  relinquishment avoidance program, including the department, the
  commission, contracted residential treatment centers, and local
  mental and behavioral health authorities.
         (e)  The department and local mental and behavioral health
  authorities shall follow the protocols adopted under Subsection
  (d).
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.